memorie of king Eritreus which in old time reigned there The riuer Tygris in the discourse of his currant maketh an Ilande conteinining xxx miles in bredth and lx in length wherein reigned Athabilus a Prince both proude and warlike whome without armes Traiane brought vnder his Empire The ayre of those Seas being different in nature from other Seas and being then in the greatest heate of Summer Traiane in that nauigation passed much trauaile and perill and being persuaded by certeine to forsake the Sea and take the land aunswered the vicious go from hence to Rome to séeke delight and the vertuous come from Rome hither to séeke trauailes bycause our predecessours in exchaunge of great trauailes receiued great and glorious triumphes wherefore I will neuer cease fighting for feare either nauigation for perill or daunger At the mouth of those Seas there was a people named Sipassinos so called of certeine fieldes whiche they helde whether from manye partes they brought their heards to féede these Sipassinos were subiects to king Athabilus who vnderstanding of his submission vnto the Romaines ioyntly with great good will came foorth to receiue Traiane Passing along those Ilandes and all the cities along the Sea coasts on either side being subdued Traiane entred the Ocean Sea and therewith vnderstanding the wracke decaye of his shippes the darkenesse of the ayre his pylots to want experience vpon those coasts he arriued to land to renewe his nauie Traiane was informed that those Seas were of such condition that they endured not shippes made of straunge timber but of wood of the Indies for otherwise they did consume or at times drowne them The sorrowe of Traianes harte might not be expressed for that to passe into the great Indies he had no preparation because of the insufficiēcie of his own ships and want of timber of the Indies And when Traiane saw his voyage to be frustrate without remedie they saye that he saide with a great sigh Of all Princes past onely vnto Alexander I giue the preeminence for that he passed into the Indies but if fortune had not hindered mee him as others I woulde haue excelled for I had a wil not only to conquer all the Indies but therein to haue erected a nowe Rome All the time that Traiane stayed there he gaue him selfe particularly to vnderstand of the state of al thinges in the greate Indiaes that is to saye what Gods they worshipped what temples they helde what kinges they obeyed what dyet they vsed what garmentes they did weare howe they did fight in what cities they did inhabite wherein they were exercised and howe muche the greater things they did report so muche the more the sorrowe of his heart did augment From thence Traiane sēt certeine messengers vnto Rome with great riches for the treasurie Also a memoriall of all the prouinces kingdomes Ilandes nations and people that he had subdued and takē and brought vnder the Empire of Rome Great ioy was receiued in Rome vpon the manifestation of these newes no lesse wonderfull vnto the Romaines to read so many and so variable people to be ouercome by Traiane because it was affirmed amongest them in the Senate of Rome that none had séene them either as muche as to haue heard of them Presently they erected in Rome vnto Traiane an arche triumphant wherin was grauen the names of the kingdomes that Traiane had subdued and the principall prouinces that he had taken for if they shuld haue placed them all conformable vnto his memoriall they should want marble to be wrought and workemen to graue the same When Traiane might not passe into the great Indies he came vnto the house of Alexander the greate where as it was saide he died and there did buylde all that by antiquitie was decayed falne downe also did adde other newe buyldings thereunto offered riche sacrifices vnto the Gods in memorie reuerence of Alexander Traiane sayling on the Ocean Sea towardes the Indians the Tesiponts supposing that he should neuer returne into that prouince determined to rebel and therwith slewe all the Romaines that remained in garrison brought all their countrie in armes Against these other people that rebelled Traiane sent Maximinus and Lucius with an armie of greate power who fought most vnfortunatly for that the one fled the other died He that escaped was Lucius who to refourme all faultes past tooke the citie of Nisibin Edessa which he destroyed burnt with fire wherof Traiane was not a little offended because in the warres he would not any spoile to be made by fire Eritius Clarus Alexander Seuerus two Romaine Pretours made their entrie by Seleucia whiche they totally did sacke destroy being aduertised the Traiane was drowned at Sea they rebelled slewe the Romaine magistrates Traiane doubting the rebellion of the Parthians entred their countrie hauing intelligence of the death of Parthurus their king the alteration of their kingdom Traiane commaunded all the principals of Parthia to appeare before him who assēbled in the fields of Tesipont where Traiane being aduaunced did aduertise thē of his determination which if they did admitt consent vnto they might safely hold him for a pitifull father and otherwise they should finde him a most cruell enimie The Parthians ioyntly aunswered that their desire was much more to hold him as a father then an enimie and did yeld them selues both to beléeue and to obey him making their humble suite to giue them no king except he were a natiue of their kingdome for that a straunger should want both loue and obedience Presently Traiane tooke a crowne in his handes and set it vppon the heade of Persnapate declaring him to be their king and lorde of which prouision they helde them selues marueilously wel pleased for that he was not onely of their kingdome and well knowen vnto them but also bothe vertuous and warlike CHAP. XX. ¶ Howe Traiane comming from Asia to triumph in Rome was staide by death in Sicyl THE land of Parthians being stayed pacified Traiane was in disposition to go to Rome partly to rest and to cease from traueile and chiefely to triumph ouer so many nations and kingdomes but being aduertised of the rebellion of the Agarens and that the Romaine pretours were fledd presently Traiane departed vnto the lande of Agarens which is in Arabia hauing a citie as principall of their prouince very little but marueilous strong the destinie whereof was such that being sieged by infinite Princes was neuer taken or ouercome For defence of that citie the nature and situation of the countrie did not a litle helpe for that the assailants had neither wood or timber to aduaunce their engins either water or forage for reliefe of them selues or cattel the same vnto straungers not vsed thereunto did rather séeme to burne then to giue light Traiane commaunded an assault to be giuen vnto the citie the most valiant captaines being mounted vpon the wall at
him or his maister also with great pitie prouided for his cure of which déed Adrian was praised for valiant and pitifull Also in the prouince of Taragon they had coteÌ„tion for their bounds wherein Adrian prouided to plant lande markes of stone after the maner of pillers to the ende that they shoulde neither be stolne or chaunged CHAP. XI ¶ Howe Adrian did passe into Asia and of the things that chaunced there ALl the prouinces of Spaine being visited Adrian made his nauigation by the Sea Mediterrane vnto the Isle of Sicyl where he mounted the hill Aetna to behold the marueilous thinges therein conteined from whence he descended more in feare and abashed then either instructed or satisfied Adrian being descended from the hill Aetna astonied wearied and also derided staide not in that kingdome but to visite the woorkes of the good Traiane which he did amplifie with buyldinges and indued with patrimonies Adrian being resident in Sicyl vnderstoode that Asterlike the greatest lorde of Germanie was dead in whose place he presently created a king whom he sent to gouerne the same bothe well receiued and better obeyed bycause the Germaines helde them selues escandalized in that they had not kinges to gouerne them but Consuls to chastice them The Mauritans and the Numidians being diuided in cruell dissention and vnderstanding that Adrian was in Sicyl readie to passe into Africa amongest them selues they cut off all causes of warre and concluded an assured peace At that time also the Parthians soudeinly did arme them selues came into the fielde made captaines and fortified their frontiers and brought their seigniorie to be ouer the Romaines and not the Romaines ouer the Parthians Adrian being aduertised of this commotion prepared a greate armie to passe into Asia and also did write vnto the Parthians giuing to vnderstand that he helde them as his friendes and the Senate estéemed them as brethren and not as vassals wherewith the Barbarians were so muche satisfied that presently they left their armour and proclaimed peace throughout the lands Notwithstanding he was aduertised of the Parthians retire he alwayes continued his nauigation into Asia and descended first in Achaia and entred Elusin a famous citie of that prouince and leading a great armie possessing but little money he seazed the sacred thinges of the temples saying that he did it not as a Romain Prince but as a Grecian for that Hercules and Philip béeing Greeke Princes had first done and attempted the same He alone did enter the temples of Asia which was holden for great valiantnesse because without armour he entred amongest the armed Priestes and being demaunded why he would enter to robbe those temples alone and vnarmed aunswered because from our barbarous enimies we take by violence but from the Gods by request Adrian departed also vnto Athens and curiously did consider the order of their studies and the maner of their life and saide that in Athens there was nothing perfect but Agonata the swoorde player because he had greater readinesse and skill to playe with the swoorde then the Philosophers in teaching Sciences Whiche notwithstanding he did greatly honour the Philosophers and to some townes he gaue great liberties from thence he returned to Rome where he stayed but to visite to honour and also to bewaile and mourne vppon the tumbe of Plotina Which being finished Adrian againe went into Sicyl and from thence into Africa where he did visit many townes and cities reedified certeine buyldinges banished diuers Numidians and also Mauritanes for their mutinies From thence he did passe once more into Asia streight vnto Athens where he finished a certeine temple which he had begonne dedicating the same vnto the God Iupiter wherein he did ingraue the Image of Traiane did paint with his owne handes the figure of Plotina his moste especiall souereigne ladye and mistresse The greatest exercise that Adrian did vse in Asia was in buylding repairing and consecrating temples wherein he did place his name and paint with the pencill or else in Alabaster did graue his figure Adrian feasted and made a greate banquet vnto king Cosdroe at that time king of Parthians also did restore him his daughter which was committed for hostage vnto the good Traiane and a litter curiously wrought with siluer golde and Vnicorne and gaue him also many other iewels Many kinges of Asia and other greate Princes came to visite and to honour Adrian who gaue them all so noble entertainement and so highly rewarded them that greate was the honour and magnificence he obtained amongest them Pharasmano king of the Albans refusinge to visite the Emperour Adrian and to renue the league made betwixt him and the good Traiane not many dayes after Adrian wanted not occasion to dispossesse him of his estate and to banishe him all Asia constrained thereby to craue vpon his knees which would haue béen giuen him sitting in his chayre Adrian traueiling and iourneying throughout Asia visiting his presidentes procurors and chiefe officers finding amongest them faultes of great enormitie did punishe the same with moste cruell chastisementes The cause is not vnknowen of the displeasure that Adrian did beare vnto Antioche which hatred was so greate that he trauailed to diuide Syria from Phoenicia to the ende that Antioche shoulde not be the head of so many prouinces Visiting also the whole countrie of Arabia he came vnto the renoumed citie of Peluno onely to visite the sepulture of the great Pompeius which he renued and enriched and also did offer greate and sumptuous sacrificâ—s in the honour of the great Pompeius wherof the Romaine people being aduertised receiued no small delight He did not onely honour the sepulture of Pompeius but also gaue greate rewardes vnto the people of Pelusio because they had that sepulchre in reuerence placing vppon the sepulchre with his owne handes this verse as followeth Ossa viri magni tenni quam blausa sepulchro Howe small a tumbe of lime and stones Conteines a valiant warriours bones CHAP. XII ¶ Of the great liberalitie that Adrian vsed and some cruelties that he committed ONe of the thinges wherin the Emperour Adrian deserued most iustly to be praised was that with al meÌ„ he vsed great magnificence and liberalitie for that naturally in receiuing he was a niggard but in giuing very bountifull There was not euer any thing demaunded that he gaue not if it were not preuented by some others suite which alwayes he did recomfort with hope for time to come The rewardes of his noblenesse was the gift of townes cities castles Prouinces kingdomes mountaines riuers flockes or heardes salt marishes milles offices and not onely such as hapned in the gouernement of the common wealth but also he gaue the horsses out of his stable the garments for his person the prouision for his dispences and the money for his chamber in such wise that to deliuer others from necessitie he brought him selfe in to want of prouision Adrian in his life was noted of diuers weaknesses and defections
refourme the storie of the liues of tenne Romaine princes worthie moste surely to be knowen and verie pleasant to be read The purpose wherefore moste mightie Prince I haue taken so exceeding trauaile to compounde this worke is vnto the ende my penne may aduertise wherein my tongue with shame dismaieth to speake for as Bias the philosopher saide The authoritie of princes is so greate that of more thinges they haue to giue them to vnderstand then to dare or presume to speake The king Artaxerxes trauailing on a certeine daye a man of the countrie presented him with a little water in the palme of his hand the which water the king receiued and dranke and when some did murmur of that deede and also detract him the king made aunswere It is no lesse noblenesse vnto the Prince to receiue little then to giue greate and bountifull rewardes The philosopher Lycurgus that was lawe giuer vnto the Lacedaemonians commaunded those of his common wealthe that they shoulde offer vnto their Gods fewe thinges in number and not riche of value whereof when he was noted and also accused made aunswere I commaund not to offer vnto the Gods fewe thinges for that I thinke them not to deserue muche but because all men should haue wherewith to offer since of all men they will be serued for in the time of Apollo they saide vnto mee that they had rather haue little of manie then much of fewe In the lawe whiche God gaue vnto the Hebrues he was so limitted in the thinges he demaunded and so humaine in that he commaunded that in the order of the sacrifices which they should offer he did ordeine and coÌ„maund that the poore man whiche could not offer a goate should offer no more but of the hayre therof In considering that Lycurgus offered vnto his Gods iewels of small price and that king Artaxerxes receiued of a poore man an handfull of water and that vnto the true and liuing God they durst offer no more but of the hayres of a Goate giueth mee hardinesse to present this work vnto your Maiestie ⸫ The life of the good Emperour Traiane Coceius naturally a Spaniard borne in the citie of Calize compiled by syr Anthonie of Gueuara Byshoppe of Mondonnedo preacher chronicler and counsellour vnto the Emperour Charles the fifth CHAP. I. Of foure renoumed Cities that perished and were subuerted in Spaine BEfore they had Emperours in Rome either warre was raised in Carthage ther were in foure prouinces in Spaine foure right notable cities which in potencie did matche with Rome in riches with Tyrus in beautie with Helia in opulencie with Tarento The firste was Numantia the seconde Cantabria the thirde Ystobriga the fourth Italica Strabo Isodore and Pomponio Mela giue great admiration vnto the readers of the great power richesse and wealth of these foure cities And on the other part it is great pitie to consider that there is nothing of them remayning to beholde Not without cause it is saide that nothing remaineth in them to be séene because notwithstanding the prouince boundes and climate is knowen of the foundation thereof yet we may hardly attaine to name the verie place where it was buâ—lt Vnto the citie of Numantia Soria succéeded vnto the citie of Cantabria succéeded Tudela of Nauarre vnto the citie of Ystobriga succéeded Merida vnto the citie of Italica succéeded Ciuil The situation of the famous Numantia as some men affirme was vpon a certeine hill neare vnto Soria on the other side of the bridge and as others doe thinke her foundation stoode in Garray a village of Soria ioyning vnto Duero The situation of Cantabria was a league from the citie of the Groine and on that side of Ebro vpon a certeine height where nowe are planted many vines The seate of Ystobriga was where nowe the ventes of Caparra being bayting places stand and others say yt was on the hill that standeth betwixt the two riuers Las varcas de Alconeta yel casare de carceres The situation of Italica was ioyning vnto the citie of Ciuil and some saye it was vpon the way to Carmona and that the arches of Carmona were made to furnishe the citie of Italica O secrete iudgementes of the moste high or humaine instabilitie that all these places being viewed personally of my selfe where these so excellent cities were buylt I found not so muche as a tower a wall a stréete or a house to beholde neither so much as a stone almost to stumble at We haue great reason to exclaime and much more hath the discréete reader to wonder since we vnderstand that fourtéene yeres Numantia resisted the power of the Romaines and now we sée it made a pasture for shéepe We vnderstande that Cantabria was the last thing whiche the Romaines did subdue in Spaine and nowe there remaineth but a patche of vineyardes in the same We certeinly knowe that the greatest strength which king Viriato held in Spaine was Ystobriga and nowe there remaineth not but certeine grâ—ene trées shrubbes They which write of the citie of Italica do saye that it was the most strong and the most estéemed of all the kingdome of Vandalia and nowe they gather both wheat and barley in the same Scipio the Africane destroyed the citie of Numantia because in the first Punicke battels they would not helpe the Romaines Gracchus a Romaine captaine subuerted the citie of Ystobriga because from thence Viriato made him warre Pompeius hoste destroyed the citie of Italica for that in the parcialitie of Iulius Caesar they were most faithfull The Emperour Augustus ouerthrewe the citie of Cantabria as a man more moued with yre then directed by reason The case was thus that as he had the citie besieged and brought in great distresse he sent to require of the citizens to yelde him all their treasure and giue vnto Rome perpetuall tribute The Cantabrians considering what the Emperour demaunded aunswered in a letter after this manner Emperour Augustus we pray the immortall Gods to receiue thee into their defence and that it may please them to examine betwixt thee and vs who in this warre hath more iustice and thou knowest O immortall Prince that men although they haue power to take warre in hande it is not in their handes but in the Gods to obteine victorie because we men begin many thinges with malice the which afterwardes the Gods do finish by iustice with thy exceeding potencie it may not be denied but that thou hast brought this sorrowfull citie into great distresse in such wise that we haue neither bread to eate either water to drinke either skinnes to make garments or corke to make shooes neither towers to couer vs but ioyntly with this thou hast to vnderstande that if wee want armour wherwith to fight wee lacke not heartes to abide death It wel appeareth that thou hast made experience of our weake forces and vnderstandest not the greatnesse of our mindes since thou demaundest the treasure of our houses and the libertie of our persons
they did not a litle persuade Traiane to take peace or to make some honest truce and without peril to return to Rome Traiane to this made aunswer our weakenesse should be great and with great reason they would blame vs in Rome if so soudēly we should ceasse to make warre without first making proofe to what ende their forces do extende and also vnderstande what our destinies do containe bycause it may be that if their power be great our fortune may be much greater King Decebal had taken fortified all the daungerous passages and broken all bridges barkes botes of all the riuers and had taken spoiled all the victuals where the Romaines should passe and all these thinges were occasions to increase trauaile vnto Traiane but not of power sufficient to remoue his enterprise for that Traiane was of so valliant a minde that where he sawe fortune most doubtfull from thence he did hope of victorie moste certeine Traiane did take possesse the height of the rockes and mountaines and thereon with all his armie did trauaile many nights and dayes king Decebal did neuer conceiue that Traiane would trauaile by those thornie mountaines for that he thought it impossible for men to trauaile where beastes could not escape King Decebal was constrained to returne vnto the plaine countrie and to fortifie him selfe in strong cities to this ende Traiane did purpose not to fight in mountains that be daungerous but in fieldes that be plaine for he saide that they came not to fight with the mountaines whiche bred bruite beastes but to tame cities which susteine seditious men In very short space Traiane had taken fiue cities seuen castels and many prisoners among which Mirto was taken being vnckle tutour and captaine of king Decebal a man of greate grauitie and of no lesse authoritie Traiane was so rigorous with them that did resist him and so pitifull vnto such as did yelde them that some for loue and others for feare began secretely to practise throughout the kingdome totally to yeald them selues vnto Traiane because they sawe euery day Traians force to increase and the power of king Decebal to decay and growe very weake Traiane besieging a certeine citie named Myrtha holding the captaine therof in great distresse king Decebal forgate not to sende him reliefe succour of great power against whome Lucius Metellus a captaine of Traianes did march and aduaunce him self who at that instant fought so valiantly and manlike that he lest not of all the enimies one onely person that was not either taken or slaine And as in that battaile manye Romaines were slaine and many more wounded lacking clothes to binde vp their woundes Traiane tare his owne shirt to supply their want in that behalfe Being knowne within the citie howe their succorour was discomfited and howe Traiane to cure his wounded had rent his own shirt they did feare the victorie and were amazed at a worke of so great clemencie and bothe these things were not a litle preiudiciall vnto king Decebal chiefely for that he was proude and disdainfull for the good Traiane if with his engins he ouerthrewe their castels with the fame of his good woorkes he did robbe and steale the mindes of his armie The citie of Myrtha beeing taken and rendred into the handes of Romaines presently king Decebal sent Ambassadours vnto Traiane aduertising that he woulde become subiect vnto the Romaine Empire vppon suche condition that the thinges whereon they should capitulate were reasonable and suche thinges as they shoulde commaunde to be perfourmable for otherwise he and his were determined rather to dye with libertie then to liue in bondage The conditions that Traiane sent to demaund were these That he should leaue all armour discampe his armie subuert his castels yelde his engines restore that which was robbed become a friende vnto the friendes and an enimie vnto the enimies of the Senate render suche captaines as came to his succour and giue 100000 pesants of golde to paye the armie and giue one of his sonnes in pledge for suretie of all promises All these conditions king Decebal was contented to sweare and obserue except the rendering of the captaines which came in his fauour to succour him saying that so vile a déede did not agrée with the clemencie of Traiane to demaunde it neither vnto his royall fidelitie to graunt it for that he yelded him selfe and his countrey but to preserue the life of his friendes and alies King Decebal came vnto the presence of Traiane and knéeling vpon the grounde did take off the crowne from his head and kissed the knée and the hand of Traiane the which lifting him from the grounde and againe placing the crowne vpon his head saide vnto him I admitt thee to kisse my knee for the rebellion which thou hast committed and I gaue thee my hande to kisse for the vassalage whiche thou owest mee nowe I giue thee place to sitt by mee as a friend I returne thy crowne vnto thee as vnto a king and therefore learne to vnderstande thy faulte past and to conserue this present benefite for otherwise thou shalt put mee to muche trauaile and thy selfe in great peril CHAP. XI ¶ Howe Traiane triumphed of the Datians and refourmed his common wealth MAny castels being furnished and others ouerthrowen and subuerted and the armies being paide with king Decebals money Traiane departed vnto Rome leading with him the kinges sonne for pledge and other noble men for Ambassadours because it was a lawe much vsed and also obserued amongest the Romaines that it were of no value which was capitulate in the wars if it were not confirmed in the Senate at Rome The Ambassadours of king Decebal arriued at Rome before the Emperour Traiane who bareheaded their armour throwne downe and their hands ioyned and lifted vp did humbly beséeche the Senate that it might please them to pardon kinge Decebal the rebellion which he had committed against them and to confirme all that which the Emperour Traiane had capitulate bycause for that which had passed he did repent him and for time to come did offer amendes With readie disposition the Romaine senate did approue allowe and confirme all actes agréed vppon betwixt Traiane and the Datians and presently commaunded their armour to be restored them to walk in the citie at their libertie bycause it was a lawe inuiolable that the Ambassadours whose Princes helde warres with the Romaine people might weare no kinde of armour either walke the stréetes at libertie without licence Many and most extreme were the feastes wherewith the Romaines did receiue the Emperour Traiane very great was the riches that he bestowed in his triumph admitting that the Romains did much reioyce to see their Empire riche in great power but it did muche more please them to beholde Traiane returned whole safe and aliue for it is incredible what affection and loue all men did beare him and the sacrifices beyonde all valure that for him they did
yere in the whole land there was great scarsitie of bread wherby Traiane was constrained to shorten his iourney and to hasten his imbarkage in such manner that the pestilence draue him out of Africa and hūger out of Spaine Traiane departed Spaine with determination not to stay vntill his arriuall in Asia and there to take the way vnto the greater Armenia would neuer take land in any porte of Italie but passing like pylgrimes made no stay but onely to renue their victuals All those whiche trauelled with Traiane were astonied to sée him passe the portes of his kingdomes as if it had bene the lande of enimies Traiane had a capteine named Valerius Gracchus vnto whom the Emperour did beare speciall affection and did estéeme him as a kinsman vnto this man they say that Traiane sayd in great secrecie If I had found warres in Sicyl Africa or Spaine as I found in Datia whereby I might haue obteined some victorie I woulde not haue passed without landing in Italie but since it is thus come to passe I sweare by the immortall Gods to set no foote a land in Italie vntil I deserue to enter triumphing into Rome High verie high were these wordes worthy and right worthy to be written in the hearts of Princes to beholde this Prince that banished him selfe from the delightes of his own proper kingdomes to séeke fame in straunge landes With great determination Traiane did enterprise the voyage into Armenia wherin he entered making cruell war taking occasion of the king of Armenians which refused to confesse to haue receiued his kingdome from the Romaines but of the king of Parthians Traiane not satisfied to make war vpon the Armenians but also entered the landes and territories of the Parthians bicause in the most principall Prouince of Trapa he deteined his armie more then thrée monethes Parthurus king of Parthians a man of great yeares beholding the warres offered him by the enimie determined to present peace vnto Traiane who being demanded of his Parthians why he discouered so great feare within his owne kingdome he made answere If the wars were but armie against armie the Parthians woulde not feare the Romaines but we fight with the Emperor Traiane vnto whome the Gods haue giuen so great fortune that it farre exceedeth our great power Without consuming of many dayes or imploying of many armies the Parthians made peace with Traiane and the Armenians did yeald them selues as ouercome From Parthimisires king of Armenians the kingdome was remoued and both crowne and kingdome Traiane gaue with his owne handes vnto his sonne and this he did bycause king Parthimisires had sayd that of the Parthians and not of the Romaines he was crowned king in suche wise that the good Traiane in remouing the kingdome frō the father did execute iustice and in giuing it to the sonne gaue a shewe of his clemencie Traiane was not satisfied that the Parthians shoulde haue peace and become tributaries vnto the Romaines but that king Parthurus by the handes of Traiane must be crowned and so it came to passe that knéeling vpon his knées he receiued his crowne kissed his hande and consented to pay tribute Traiane did marche through all those Prouinces and kingdomes and vnto the kinges that did yeald obedience benignly he did intreate them and in their kingdomes did confirme them and vnto suche as did vse resistaunce vnto others he gaue their kingdomes and sent them prisoners vnto Rome Traiane helde for custome that in all principall cities of kingdomes or Prouinces that he had taken by force of armes he did commaunde to erect a most strong castle wherevnto his armies did repayre and a right sumptuous temple wherein to worshippe the Goddes of Rome As Traiane did passe and trauell visite and conquere all the thrée partes of the world that is to say Asia Africa and Europa in all which countries he did trauell to leaue of him selfe immortall fame the testimonie wherof maketh it credible that all the Romaine princes ioyntly haue not erected so many buildings as Traiane onely did performe Traiane did leade his armies verie well furnished ordered corrected and also in great subiection this procéeded that alwaies in his own person he did accōpany the same and helde them both paide and rewarded for as he did vse to say The hoast that of his owne proper Prince is not visited and paide is sildome or neuer in subiection When Traiane was in the warres in his féeding and apparel he did rather séeme a companion then an emperour of Rome for that sildome he went vnarmed and many were the dayes wherein he did eate standing Hauing a bodie somewhat drie and of great sinowes he was moste patient in tedious trauaile of warres that is to say in suffering hunger colde thirste wette snowe heate perils whiche he refused not as a cowarde but sought thē out as one of a valiant mind for that in all hazardes perils he neuer saide vnto his captaines go but let vs go do but let vs do fight but let vs fight He gaue in charge vnto his armies not to attempt to burne houses set fire in corne ouerthrowe milles or cut downe orchardes affirming that these thinges are to be obteined but not destroyed Whē Traiane would take any citie he did not imploye his force in any thing more then to depriue the enimies of their waters In the campes of his enimies he did cause to be sowen false newes that is to wite that if he had victuals to saye that he wanted that if he had money to saye it was spent that if he had muche people that they were gone that if he would shortly giue an assault to saye that he would departe and by this meanes he brought his enimies into negligence while in meane time he did fortifie his armies Traiane was of greate liberalitie vnto such as discouered the enimies secretes and ioyntly therewith of no lesse prouidence for the entering of spies within his campes When he helde warre with any citie or countrye he did not permitt his souldiers to spoile the borders thereof for he helde opinion that smal profit might rise to spoile the poore villages and greate hurte and offence vnto the armies by want of victuals Vnto a captaine that tooke a ploughman kilde his two Oxen at the ploughe Traiane commaunded to be banished with great ignominie and to giue the ploughman his horse his armour and all his wages that was due For no fault Traiane commaunded any man to be slaine in the warres but onely him that slept being of the watche or the captaine that ranne awaye out of the battel or did rauishe any woman Traiane was so pitifull that vsually he did pardon all negligences especially in the warres except two faultes which he did neuer remitt that is to say such as blasphemed the Gods and rauished women Traiane was verie diligent and careful in visiting his camps and to kéepe a reckoning of all his armies and this he did to the ende
which they had gathered togeather Seuerus slewe some with some reason others vpon smal occasion but all these which followe he killed without all reason or occasion that is to say Munius Sellius Claudius Bitalius Papianius Elius Iulius Lolius Aurelius Antoninus Posthumius Sergius Fabius Nenius Amussius Casperius Seyonius Sulpitianus Coceyus Eructus Assilonius Claudius Honoratus Petronius Pessenius Cestus Aurelianus Materius Iulianus Albinius Cerelius Faustinianus Herenius Valerius Nobius Arabianus Marcus Fabatus These men were glorious both of bloud also for noble déedes riches for they were either Consuls Censors Pretors Senatours Ediles Tribunes or capteines whose goods he imployed not vnto the publique treasurie but did incorporate vnto his patrimonie for him selfe to inioy the dayes of his own life to leaue vnto his children after his death Seuerus defamed Cincius an auncient Consul affirming that he had procured poyson to kill him wherfore he commaunded him to be slaine but the trueth being knowen as Seuerus afterward reported but the Cincius did much delight to goe on hunting had a fine yeark to kill the Bore other venerie in the mountaines He commaunded also Narcissus to be cast vnto the Lyons who at the request of Martia choked Commodus it was nothing to commaund them to be slaine but that with his owne eyes he would behold them executed which was wont to be so straunge vnto Romaine princes that they neuer vsed to sée any person put to deth neither so much as in the citie to be resident but they vsed if any suffered to ride or go foorth on hunting CHAP. XIII ¶ Howe Seuerus returned into Asia and conquered many prouinces AFter that Seuerus had conquered and slaine thrée Emperours that is to saye Iulianus in Rome Niger in Asia and Albinius in Fraunce it séemed vnto him that since he had chasticed and triumphed ouer the Romans he ought also to make his name glorious amongest the Barbarians because all the warres that he helde vnto that daye were more to make him selfe Lorde of the common wealth then to magnifie his name Seuerus aduised him selfe to go in his owne person to make warres with the Parthians the occasion of which enterprise was for that the king of Atrenoes had fauoured the parcialitie of Niger but had deferred the reuengement thereof to make conquest of Albinius being in great Britain If Seuerus in this case had taken the opinion of the people either the counsell of the Senate he woulde neither haue taken those warres in hande or made accompt of the iniurie because at that time those kingdomes were neither friendes or foes with Rome And as the Romans were fatigated tyred with warres so they were contented for the time to ceasse the recouering of them for their vassals to obtein them for quiet enimies Seuerus departed vnto Asia and in the way would first take the kingdōe of the higher Armenia whereof the king of Armenia being aduertised and that he came with an armie of so greate power and so determined to take his kingdome met him vppon the way not armed as a man of warre but clad with the garments of peace his truce being set downe with Seuerus presently he gaue him much money and offered to sende him succour for the accomplishment wherof he deliuered vnto Seuerus his two sonnes in pledge Seuerus did not onely confirme him in his kingdome but also tooke him vnder his protection The affaires of Armenia being dispatched Seuerus departed towardes the kingdom of Hosdroenos whose king was named Anguaro bothe crooked and same but yet no foole for he had such skill to recouer the good will of Seuerus that he neither admitted him as a vassall tooke no money demaunded no hostages or did his countrie hurt but receiued him to his familiar friendship and made him a confederate with the people of Rome Hauing passed the kingdome of Hosdroenos Seuerus entred the landes and countries of Albanos and being then the moneth of April and spring time he founde the fieldes full of flowers and grasse and commaunded his horsses for the space of fiftéen dayes to be fedde and his armie to be recreated and refreshed because his horsses were growen leane and his men tyred Seuerus beeing departed from the fieldes of Albanos entred the countrie of Arabia Felix where they found that which they found not in all the kingdomes of the worlde namely the trées that hare the precious Aromatike spices and the boughes whereof they gathered the most fine and excellent baulme Seuerus sacked all the townes of Arabia Felix cut downe their fieldes spoyled and oppressed all people and as he afterwardes saide he would not haue entred therein for that being as it was so riche so ioyfull pleasant and delectable but because he found him selfe in greate cumber to withdrawe his souldiours from thence for that they felt them selues more delighted with the vices of Arabia then with the hazardes and daungers of the warres Hauing passed the delectable countrie of Arabia Felix Seuerus entred the countrie and kingdom of Athrabanos against whose king principally he made that iourney Athras was a great citie situated vpon the top of a most high hill and chiefest citie of all the kingdome and for that cause was named the kingdome of Athrabanos Seuerus went presently to the siege thereof but as the king had inclosed him selfe therein with great readinesse and prouision the wall being strong the citie rockye the people warrelike and furnished with munition and victuals small was the hurte that Seuerus did vnto them within but which the Romans receiued was very greate And as Seuerus gaue foorth no other bruite when he came from Rome but to be reuenged of the Athrabanos he perfourmed that warre so exactly that there was no daye but he battered the citie of Athras and occupied his warlike engins deuised and practised all manner fights and offences that might be against the enimie and the moste notified Romans that there did not notifie them selues but in the ende might neither take the same either as much as a capteine or ouerthrow one windowe Those that were besieged within that citie to iest with their enimies tyed very subtily little earthen pottes vnto a kinde of byrdes like vnto Crowes which flying ouer the armies of Seuerus let fall their pottes vpon their pates by which iest many had their heades broken but much more were the Romans despighted to consider howe little they did estéeme them not fighting with them in armour but with pottes and tankardes The ayre of that mountaine was verie subtile the waters verie thinne fruites in great aboundaunce and the Sunne verie hoat and the grounde somewhat moyst by which occasion Seuerus his whole campe fell into the disease of the fluxe and there died amongest the rest seuen notable capteines two of Seuerus cousins and a little bastarde sonne which all men likewise thought to be his cousin but by his greate sorrowe teares he discouered the childe to be of his owne proper fleshe
Seuerus considering the citie of Athras to be inexpugnable the people therein inuincible and his campe also weakened through greate sickenesse aduised to rayse his siege before his armie were vtterly lost which he did not without greate griefe and no lesse despight being as he was giuen vnto so many triumphes and victories he thought him self vāquished since he might not ouercome but fortune that naturally discouereth her self to be variable the victorie which shée denied Seuerus in fighting shée in his flight gaue afterwardes more largely The case was thus that sailing on the Sea with all his armie it was his chaunce to encounter with a tempest and being forced to followe the disposition of the weather and not as his heart desired they brought him to riuers of the kingdome of Parthia not thrée leagues distant from the greate citie of Tesiphont where the king was further entred into feasting then compassed with armour Seuerus entred into the fielde of Tesiphont committing so greate spoiles and robberies that he put the people into greate feare which as Seuerus did take at the soudeine and vnwares and being amazed neither able to saye or aunswere if they were demaunded for that to flye they had no time and to resist they had no force that whiche was woorst of all to make agréement it was not in their handes neither might they endure to submitt themselues vnto the Romans Seuerus arriuing at Tesiphont did subuert it vnto the ground slewe al that made resistance and did captiuate man woman and childe he tooke al the treasure and riches bothe of the citie and royall palace finally all the countrie treasure goods and persons came to the handes of Seuerus except the king Arthabanus who escaped on horsebacke Seuerus led with him certeine skilfull painters which as he went traueiling they went drawing and painting all cities castels riuers mountaines nations kingdomes and prouinces by throughe which he passed and all the battels and victories whiche he had made and obteined Seuerus sent a greate Ambassage vnto the Senate and people of Rome with whome he sent many captiues much riches and the tables wherin his victories were set out at large the Romains gaue greate thankes vnto the Gods and also greate praises vnto Seuerus although moste true that all men were pleased with the victories but would not that they shoulde haue béene obteined by Seuerus Departing from the kingdome of Parthia he diuided amongest his armies all that he had taken from the Parthians and for himselfe reserued nothing but that which he sent vnto the Senat and a ring of Vnicorne a white parat or popingay and a gréen horse the which thinges he toke not for their value but forthe straungnes of their colours Seuerus came through the kingdome of Palestina and gaue them many lawes conformable vnto the lawes of the Romanes commaunding vppon paine of death that none should name himselfe a Iew either call himselfe a Christian or obserue the lawe of Christians From Palestina he came through Assyria vnto the citie of Alexandria where also he placed new customes and also made newe lawes which he caused them to write and obserue howbeit they endured but the life of Seuerus for after his death they did not onely breake them but also burnt the tables wherin they were writen CHAP. XIIII ¶ Of Seuerus his sonnes and of their euill inclination THe kinges that were enimies being ouercome new cōfederation made with old friends and all the prouinces of Asia reformed he came vnto Rome and as the Romans had prepared the Parthicke triumph he might not enter triumphing for that he came so weake of a quartane and so lame of the goute that he might neither indure the chariott or suffer the intertainement of the people It had chaunced to none of the Romane Empire as it fortuned vnto Seuerus that is to say that had slaine so many princes obteyned so many victories and yet neuer entered triumphing into Rome which was not for his demerits or repugnancie of the Romanes but for his thrée first victories he might not triumphe because they were Romane princes and to his other victories of Asia his disease gaue impediment Seuerus had two legitimate sonnes the elder was named Bassianus the other Geta who notwithstanding they were brothers in bloud yet were they much different in conditions which infirmitie was not onely manifested in their infancie for that in their childish playes they could neuer agrée either in weightie affaires yeld one consent It was much noted amongest the Romanes that the two bretherne being but children might neuer agrée in their childishe playes and deuises that is to say in making houses of clay running at base driuing topps meating strawes trilling the bowle striking the drumme and other such like childishe trifles That the one delighted the other lothed that which the elder affirmed the younger denied and if it happened their tutours to commaund them to play together if the one did winne and the other loose they tare their haire scratched their faces whirled stones strucke with their fistes in such wise that as from their téeth and face they drue bloud and rent off their lockes so they séemed rather to kill eche other as enimies then to iest as brethren It was no small griefe vnto Seuerus when hée vnderstoode of the euil condition of his sonnes and that alwayes they were diuided amongest themselues who trauelled by al meanes possible to bring them to conformitie which he might neuer by any meanes bring to passe althoughe he requested either would they obey although hée commaunded for his sonnes were so wilfull that they ceased not to execute their owne wills notwithstanding their fathers gentle sute or his extréeme commaundement Seuerus also had a brother named Geta a person of great bolonesse and warrlike who in all warres followed Seuerus and if Seuerus had hautie thoughtes truly Geta his thoughtes were not humble for hée helde it for most certaine that vnto him Seuerus should leaue the Empire Besides that Geta was valiaunt and warrlike so was he also guilefull and diligent that is to say in seruing Seuerus contenting the Senate and pleasing the people The hatred and brabbling that passed betwixte Bassianus and Geta his cousins vsually hée reported it vnto all men in such wyse that Geta supposed to obteine by guile the Empire that Seuerus had gotten with armes Seuerus well vnderstoode howe Geta wente thus anglinge for the Empire and therein to take awaye all occasions in the fourth yeare of his Empire going against Albinius at that time in the citie of Millaine before hée passed the Alpes hee created his elder sonne Caesar and his younger Consul whereuppon a certaine Capitaine said vnto Seuerus it well séemeth Seuerus thou remembrest not the displeasures that Bassianus and Geta thy sonnes haue done thée either the seruice which thy brother Geta hath performed on thy behalfe To this Seuerus aunsweared it well appeareth that thou speakest by hearesaye rather then by anye
heare thereof and woulde ofte say vnto me that manie kinges and kingdomes he had seene lost by mariage in straunge countries and therefore woulde not marrie me but within his owne kingdome and saide at the houre of his death that if I woulde liue manie yeares in peace I shoulde not abandon my children to straunge marriages I had three sonnes whiche nowe bee all deade and there remaineth vnto me but only one daughter in whome remaineth all my hope and if the Gods would and my destinies permitte I woulde giue her an husbande within mine owne naturall countrie whome I might esteeme as my sonne and he me as his father for my intent is not to giue her an husband that hath much goods but in his person greate worthinesse To that which thou sayest of the kingdoms of Parthians the Empire of Romanes would do verie wel to be ioyned in one thou hast great reason in that which thou sayest if it might be done with as great facilitie as it is spoken but how is it possible they may be made one being as they are so strange in nation so distant in situation so distinct in language so diuers in lawes and aboue all the reste so contrarie in conditions Since betwixt you and vs there are so manie landes countries nations hills and seas howe is it possible the bodies beeing so distante that the harts may be vnited Wee are much better knowne vnto the Godds then wee knowe our selues and since they haue created vs and separated vs the one from the other howe is it possible for vs to liue and enioy together for by greate diligence that men may vse either power that princes may practise it is impossible for them to scatter that whiche the Godds do gather together or to ioyne that whiche they do separate If thou wilte haue men for thy warres I wil sende them If thou wilt haue money to inrich thy treasure I will furnishe thee If thou wilt enter peace with mee I will graunte it If thou wilte that wee be brothers in armes by othe I will confirme it Finally I excepte nothing betwixte thee and mee but that thou do not craue my daughter to wife I am determined wil not for giuing my daughter a good marriage leaue my countrie tributarie vnto straunge people The precious iuells and greate riches which thou sentest me I haue receiued with greate good will and I sende thee others although not such either so riche neuerthelesse thou mayest alwayes cōceiue by them that the kinges of the Parthians haue greate treasures in their keeping and no lesse noblenesse of minde to spende them No more but the Goddes be thy defence and that thou of me and I of thee may see good fortune CHAP. XII Howe Bassianus committed a greate treason against the Parthians THis letter being receiued by Bassianus he made semblance of greate sorrowe that the kinge of Parthians would not giue him his daughter to wife howbeit he ceased not therefore eftsones to write sende more presents to bringe to passe by importunities that which of will he might not frame Arthabanus considering the importunities of Bassianus in writinge and his largesse in sending more riche iuells not doubting that anie guile might be concealed in that marriage did yealde him selfe vnto the iudgmente of his friendes who counselled him that hee shoulde not in anie wise but accept the Emperour of Romaines for his sonne in lawe for it might be that hee shoulde recouer him for an enimie that would not accept him for a sonne The fame beeing spread throughout all Asia that the kinges daughter shoulde marrie with the Emperour of Rome Bassianus aduised to repaire and prepare with all speede so that in all cities of the Parthians where he passed they did not only not resiste him but with greate ioy did receiue and feast him for they helde it for greate vaine glorie to sée their princesse demaunded for wife by the great Emperour of Rome In all places where Bassianus passed he offered riche sacrifices in their temples and gaue greate rewardes vnto suche as did attende and receiue him all whiche he dissembled to escape suspicion of the exceeding malice whiche he determined to execute Bassianus beeing arriued at the greate citie Parthinia where most times the greate kinge of Parthians was residente Arthabanus issued foorth to receiue his sonne Bassianus who most truly ranne foorth as cōformable vnto peace as Bassianus readie and determined for the warres There issued foorth with kinge Arthabanus not only the noble and valiaunt personages of his house and courte but also all the men of power and wealth of his kingdome which against that day were called and did attende in such wise that by his traine the kinge discouered his valure as also the noblenesse of his people Nowe when the Parthians beganne to ioyne with the Romaines and of both partes greate courtesies offered Bassianus gaue a signe vnto his armed knights to giue a charge vpon the Parthians vpon whome they executed as greate a slaughter as Hanibal at Canasse and Scipio at Carthage The kinge Arthabanus as he came in the troupe of all his royaltie tooke his seruaunts horse and gaue him selfe to flight and then as it was night his horse verie swift he had leasure to escape with his life although not able to defende his countrie This beeing donne he sackt the royall palace and al the citie and after commaunded fire to be giuen to all partes thereof whiche he perfourmed in all cities where he passed all the time that he remained in Parthia and freely gaue licence vnto his armie to take what they might to kill whome they would This was the manner that Bassianus vsed to subdue the Parthians whiche conquest with more reason may be termed the inuention of a traytour then the conquest of an Emperour for the innocente Parthians were rather solde then ouercome At the presente when these thinges passed Bassianus did write vnto the Senate aduertisinge them that hee had subdued all prouinces and kingdomes of the Easte vnto the Romaine Empire some by force and others by good will and that allthough the Romane princes his predecessours did excéede him in yeares and riches yet not to be comparable vnto him in victories The Senate béeing ignorante of the greate treason of Bassianus practised against the Parthians because they receiued his letters before anie other messenger had made reporte thereof were verie ioyfull and made greate feastes in Rome placeing his counterfeit vpon all the gates of the citie but after they vnderstoode the trueth of the treason committed they were so muche grieued with that so vile a deede that if the Parthians did suffer the Romanes did bewayle CHAP. XIIII How Bassianus was slaine by the commaundemente of his priuate captaine Macrinus THe Emperour Bassianus beeing departed from the territories of Parthia came vnto the prouince of Mesopotamia which was in the moneth of October and beeinge full of woodes wherin were
emperour Traiane by what meanes more then all other Princes past of all men he had obteined so speciall loue and lyking Traiane did answere for that naturally I delight to pardon such as do offende me and neuer forget such as do serue me And truly Traiane saide most truthe that loue and hatred haue their beginning of thankfulnesse and ingratitude bycause there is no enimie so fierce or cruel as he which in time past we held for a friend being remoued by vnkindnesse All things as concerning Datiâ—…a being dispatched Traiane returned to Rome If the triumphes of the first warres were great when king Decebal was ouercome muche greater were the triumphes of the second warres when he was slaine The feasts of the triumphes of Datia endured an hundred and twentie dayes in which were slaine an hundred Lions and of other wilde beastes an hundred thousande which is to vnderstande Deare red and vallo Tygres Bulles Leopards Wolues Beares Vnicornes Boares Panthers Eliphants Camels Ounces and many other such straunge beastes taken brought from the deserts of Africa and the great India The feastes of the triumphe being finished presently Traiane commaunded to be made great sacrifices vnto the Godds in remuneration of the great perils froÌ„ which they had deliuered him and for the great triumphs which they had giuen him He commaunded newe temples to be made one vnto the vnknowne God to the Romaines another vnto the God Mars whiche was the God of the Datians He commaunded greate summes of money to be giuen to the Priestes of the temples vnto the end they should offer daily sacrifice vnto the Gods for the health and prosperitie of his kingdomes and also to repaire ennoble their temples At his coÌ„ming froÌ„ Datia wheÌ„ Traiane passed the riuer Rubicon being detained an whole day for want of passage imediately vpon his coÌ„ming to Rome he sent money workemen to make a bridge ouer that riuer whiche was more profitable although not so sumptuous as the bridge made ouer Danubie In the marishes of Pontaine Traiane did rayse and make a calsey both long and large of stone a worke right profitable and necessarie although not a little costly for where as afore there was but water and myre there succéeded houses and inhabitants In those dayes there dyed in Rome a certaine Physician named Suras Lycinus in whose death Traiane did vtter great sorrowe vnto whom he commaunded his picture to be aduaunced in the place and a riche sepulchre to be erected in the field of Mars There was in Rome two speciall men learned in letters and vertuous in manners whiche were perfect friendes of Traiane and in the common wealth much estéemed the one was named Palma and the other Celsus vnto these he gaue many and great offices of honour and in the place did erect vnto them pictures of Alabaster Traiane made in Rome many and great Libraries wherein he did place bookes of al sciences and of all languages where strangers might reade and citizens learne Where so euer Traiane entered were it within the Empire or in a straunge kingdome he was alwayes curious in causing search for fiue things that is to say horses of good race learned men of good inclination newe armour faire women and auncient bookes All these things or which soeuer of them were neyther lost by any negligence or left vnbought for any money In the place named Datia Traiane erected a certaine most highe piller a worke most certainely being of one stone right stately and to behold in breadth and height of great wonder It is not written from whence that piller was brought vnto Traiane neyther for what intent he did raise the same in that place but as some doe gesse he ment vpon the toppe thereof to haue placed his sepulchre others sayde to no other ende but to perpetuate his memorie CHAP. XV. Containing what Traiane did in Sicyl in Africa and in Spaine TRaiane being soakte with delight in the buildinges of Rome Rufus Galba Pretour of Africa did aduertise that all Africa was escandalized by meanes of cruell warres betwéene the Numidians and the Mauritans These newes being hearde in the Senate they say that Traiane sayde The warre grieueth me but the occasion to passe into Africa doth muche please me for that many dayes past I haue desired to sée the famous fieldes of Carthage where Scipio in so shorte space obteined for him selfe immortall renoune and Hanibal lost that in one day whiche he had gotten in sixtéene yeares in Italie Traiane departed from Rome by the waye of Sicyl where he stayed al the Winter and to auoyde idlenesse he scarsely lefte any place in the whole Islande personally vnuisited none that were then aliue in Sicyl might remember to haue séene any Romaine Prince within the same for whiche cause Traiane founde many thinges to be repayred in the walles and muche more to be amended in their customes and manners Traiane being infourmed that many straunge shippes did lurke in the hauen of Mecina to spoyle and many pyrates barkes did haunt and retyre vnto the same to execute their robberies in his owne person went to the viewe thereof and at his owne coste commaunded thrée bulwarkes to be made at the mouth of the hauen whiche eyther for want of diligence of the one part or too muche malice on the other side the case was thus that before it coulde be finished the pyrates had ouerthrowne it Amongest the Panormitains whiche be they of Palermo and the inhabitaunts of Mecina of olde time had continued great contention betwixt whome Traiane not without great trauell determined finished all quarelles and debates and brought to passe that from thence foorth they continued in great friendshippe To the ende to perpetuate that peace and to roote vp all passions and vnkindnesse of that Islande by the rootes to the principall both of the one and the other Traiane gaue pensions out of his owne house and daily did cause them to eate at his owne table In Palermo Mecina and Tatania Traiane commaunded seuerall temples to be made and the Gods to whom those temples should be dedicated the inhabitaunts to make choice Traiane renued in Sicyl the kinde and race of good horsses reedified the decayed walles melted all counterfet money erected newe castles builded stately temples set peace and established quietnesse amongest the mutined cities gaue many great rewardes although no liberties vnto the people Traiane being demauÌ„ded why he gaue no liberties vnto the Sicylians as he gaue vnto other kingdomes answered bycause seruitude doth conserue them and libertie destroy them The Winter being past and the Spring come Traiane passed into Africa and did lande in the hauen where olde Carthage in time past was situate not finding one stone vpon an other to giue testimonie of the foundation thereof they say that he sayd It grieueth me that Carthage so greatly resisted Rome but it more forethinketh me that Rome shoulde not be satisfied but with the totall destruction
him to liue within the kingdome Adrian would not or else durst not make warres with the Parthians but gaue vnto Parsnapate the Seigniorie of certaine countries and Prouinces of Syria being vacant at that time as Lorde to inioy the fruites thereof and as Romaine Pretour to gouerne the people When Adrian had obteined the Empire presently he published and sayd vnto all men that he wold become a pitifull Prince and truly in some pitifull causes he did shew him selfe to be the sonne of Traiane but in some rigorous matters he séemed to be the brother of Nero. A certaine man named Bebius was Prefect in Rome who was contrarie vnto Adrian in all thinges that eyther touched his honour or profite and being counselled to kill Bebius for that he ceased not to be his aduersarie made answere I will not onely permit Bebius to liue but also the office of Pretour which hee helde but for a yeare I will confirme vnto him during his life Laberius and Frugius two Romaine Senatours were banished vnto the Isle of Pontus whom he commaunded to returne to their houses and their goodes to be restored them but the Consul Frugius being mutinous mouing commotion betwixt Adrian and the Senate he commaunded to be throwne aliue into Tyber and obteined no lesse honour in the executing of the one then in pardoning the other Vnto certaine Gentlemen of the armie that sayde vnto Adrian in times past that he should be Emperour he gaue double rewardes affirming that he gaue them not for their aduertisement but for their good will. CHAP. VII Of his entrie into Rome NOwe when Summer was come Adrian parted from Antioche to come to Rome and lefte for Preposite of Syria Catalius Seuerus and tooke his way throughe Illyria and determined to make warre with the Sarmatians which would not receiue the Ambassadours of peace Lucius Turbon that had béene Pretour tenne yeares in Mauritania came foorth to méete him vpon the waye with whome Adrian had great friendship being a young man and in house with his Lorde Traiane presently he made him Pretour of the Prouince of Datia and Panonia At that time Lucius Turbon was in Africa maister of the horsse men of whome Adrian was aduertised that he was verie riche and in greate power throughout the kingdome and that he had not obteined all that riches in the time of warre but by briberie in time of peace Adrian was not a little grieued of that which was sayde by Lucius Turbone bycause he was his friende and also seruaunt vnto Traiane but all this notwithstanding he applyed all that he had vnto the common treasure and disarmed him of his knighthoode As muche as Adrian did increase in potencie so much did his enimies increase in enuie in suche manner that they coulde neyther incline their harts to loue him eyther yeald their strēgth to serue him The case was thus that Palma Celsus Sobaius and Lucius Adrian going on hunting were determined in the middest of the chace to rid him of his life wherevpon they were agréed that in his swiftest pursuit of any wild beast they would attend him in the most thickest pace or track there vnder the colour to misse their leuell at the beast would shoote and kill the Emperour All these foure were men of noble bloud and rich in goods and were called Cōsulares bycause at other times they had bene Consuls but as their treason was discouered first by iustice they were beheaded before Adrian went on hunting Great was the murmuring and mutinie throughout all Rome when they vnderstoode howe Adrian had executed so cruell iustice vpon these foure Consulares or noble men partly for that they helde opinion that Adrian had raised that quarell againste them and partly for custome and manner for that fewe were the chastisements whiche the good Traiane did execute but great was the number that receiued pardon Adrian being aduertised that for the death of the foure Consulares all Rome was escandalized and that for a man reuenging and cruell his person was defamed determined with all spéede to come to Rome to excuse him selfe of that fault The affaires of Adrian stood not in so euill estate as vpon the way they gaue him aduertisement which did well appeare in that the Senate did offer him the triumph due vnto Traiane being cut off by death to inioy the same but Adrian refusing gaue order that the Image of Traiane shoulde be placed in the triumphant chariote to the ende that good Traiane shoulde not want a triumphe although but after his death Presently when Adrian came to Rome he went to visite the Sepulchre of his Lorde Traiane where his eyes did shed many teares and for him did offer vnto the Gods most sumptuous sacrifices All the Senate being ioyned and also all the most principal of the people vnto whome Adrian made a long oration wherin he gaue them to vnderstand of the state of the Empire and did excuse him selfe of the death of the aforesaide foure Consulares because the officers of the Senate had made searche and inquisition of the cause and the Pretors of the armies did execute the sentence The Senate did offer Adrian the title of Pater patriae but he would not receiue it affirming it to be one of the titles of his lord Traiane and since he had been a good father it were great reason he should proue a good sonne It was a custome in Rome and throughout all Italie that when their Princes came newely to gouerne the Empire that all cities and other people should furnishe him with a certeine summe of golde and siluer with the golde to make a crowne and the siluer for the seruice of his house and sometimes they did present so much golde to make the crowne that the remnant was sufficient to mainteine the warres Adrian refused not onely this seruice to be demaunded but also returned that which was brought him saying that his crowne should be riche when his subiectes should be in wealth The officers of the treasurie that is to saye suche as had the collection and kéeping of the masse of Rome had raised greate rentes daily inuenting newe manner of tributes in the common wealth which being knowen vnto Adrian he commaunded all newe impositions to be remoued from the common wealth and the inuentors thereof to be displaced from their offices Generally the Romains complained vnto Adrian of the dearth of victuals foorthwith he prouided for prouision of wheat from Sicyl wines from Candie and oyle from Spaine and further gaue such prices vnto the same and all other victuals that the poore might féede with the riche He did promise and sweare in the Senate to put no Senatour vnto death although he were culpable without the accused should first be heard and his cause considered by all the Senate and truely this othe did excuse Adrian of many executions and was no lesse occasion that the Senatours committed many faultes Princes haue to consider what they sweare
of the Prince all whiche Adrian did remoue and adnihilate affirming that those lawes were but of small seruice to the behoofe of the Prince and to the great offence of the common wealth Also the Romaine Princes did vse to inherite the goods of straungers wherin Adrian did ordeine that the children or the next of the kinne shoulde inioye the same Also he ordeined that what so euer he were that founde hid treasure in his owne inheritaunce should inioy the whole and if it were founde in an other mans inheritaunce the owner thereof should haue the one moitie and if it were founde in publike or common place that then it should be equally parted with the Confiscator Also he ordeined that no man what so euer of his own authoritie should kill his slaue for any offence but to be remitted vnto the Iudge deputed by the Prince Also he made a lawe of refourmation both for eating of superfluous meates and also for wearing of garments eyther too many or ouer costly Also he did ordeine that none what so euer should goe or be carried in a litter and one whiche he had he commaunded for example to be burnt in the market place He also commaunded that Consuls and Senatours within the compasse of Rome should weare their gownes whiche was a garment of peace He also ordeined that yong men that wanted their parentes shuld haue tutors vnto the age of fiue and twentie yeares although they were married He also did ordeine that no slaue should be solde eyther man or woman to any ruffian iester or iuggler affirming the possession of slaues to be most vniust vnto suche as wander in idlenesse all the dayes of their life Also he did ordeine that merchants or suche as dealt with exchaunge that brake their credite or were bankrupts without iust cause but only of couetousnesse by defraude to inrich them selues to be set vpon the pillorie in the market place and afterwardes to be banished Rome for euermore He did ordeine that none what so euer should suffer execution within the citie of Rome affirming that so generous a citie and consecrate vnto the Gods were not conuenient to be defiled with the bloude of wicked men Also he did ordeine that men and women shoulde haue their seuerall bathes and that who so euer should enter into the forbidden place to suffer death for the same Also he did ordaine that neyther for the Prince or Consuls any victuals should be taken from any man but that euery man might sell to whome he would where he would and how he might He did ordeine that no woman shuld aduēture to heale with words eyther that any man shuld presume to cure with cōpound medicines but to perfourme all their cures with simple hearbes In buildings he did chiefly imitate his Lord Traiane that is to say that in all countries Prouinces and kingdomes where he had bene he erected many and very famous buildings wherein it is to be noted that he neuer placed his owne name but in the temple of Traiane In Rome in a manner he wholy renued the temple named Pantheus dedicated vnto the Goddesse Berecyntha and where all the Gods were honoured The fielde of Mars in olde time was compassed and by great antiquitie the buildings falne flat vnto the grounde wherein Adrian did not only renue the decayed wals but also did furnish the same with very stately buildings He edified the reall palace named Neptunus he enlarged the palace of Augustus he reedified the bath of Tyberius he much aduaunced the temple of Titus in all these edifices he placed the names of the Princes that in times past built them and not his owne name whiche had reedified them From the foūdation he built a stately bridge which was afterwards named Adrians bridge He made also for him selfe a sepulchre ioyning vnto the riuer Tyber the stones whereof were brought from India and the workemen out of Greece He translated the temple of the Goddesse of good Fortune and the figure of Decian the artificer that was placed therein that was of so great weight that hardly foure twentie Eliphants might remoue the same the whiche figure was dedicated vnto the Sunne Adrian did erect one other to be dedicated vnto the Moone of no lesse weight or riches then the other whereof the great Polydore was workman He built in Rome a certaine building which many yeares after was named the mole of Adrian and at these dayes is called the castle of of Saint Angelo He remoued many riuers out of their chanels to water the fieldes brought many fountaines for prouision of cities In Greece he edified a citie which in time past was named Adrianopolis In the kingdome of Palestine he reedified the great citie Hierusalem which had béene destroyed by Titus and Vespasian and gaue it for name Elia for that his owne name was Elius Adrianus CHAP. XIIII Of some of his gratious and pythie sentences THe Emperour Adrian was a Prince not only sharpe of iudgement and prouident in his affaires but also of great vrbanitie and gratious in speache And the case was thus that Fauorinus a very friende to Adrian hauing an olde house at the enterie whereof he had raysed a stately porche paynted white he sayde vnto him This house of thine seemeth a gilded pill whiche outwardly giueth pleasure but within is full of bitternesse An other friende of Adrians named Siluius very blacke of face and of euill shape of body and comming on a certaine day vnto the Palace all clad in white Adrian sayde vnto those that were present That blacke face with that white garment seemeth no other but a flye drowned in a sponefull of mylke The Emperour Adrian vppon a time from his Palace behelde a Senatour in a long blacke gowne wearing vpon the same a short crimson cloake in graine and demaunding why he did weare such apparell in that place the Senatour answered Syr I walke here with this red cloake to see if my good hap may chaunce to fish some faire Ladie Wherevnto Adrian readily answered Thou seemest rather a red worme to fish frogs then as a man enamoured to fishe Ladies A certaine person with a hoarie heade crauing a rewarde whiche at that time the Emperour denyed the sayde hoare headed fellowe remembring him selfe pouling his heade and shauing his bearde came againe vnto the Emperour to renue his suite and Adrian beholding howe he was altered made fresh and growne young did answere That which now thou crauest I denyed vnto thy father They helde in Rome many fierce beastes to magnifie a daye of greate feasting and when certaine Senatours sayde vnto Adrian that it was somewhat late and highe time to go chace the beasts he made answere Ye might better haue sayd to be chaced of them then the beasts to be chaced of men for if there be ten that dare abide them there be ten myllians that runne away There was in Rome a certaine man named Enatius somewhat entered in age and of
and rulers of the people should not aduenture to spende the goods of the common wealth in matters eyther vnprofitable or superfluous but to the defence of enimies or repayring of fortifications eyther else for prouision of the common wealth in time of deare yeares There was in Rome certaine stipendarie interpreters of all languages to manifest the meaning of straunge ambassadours whose fée and office Antoninus commanded to be forbidden and taken away affirming it to be verie conuenient vnto the greatnesse and maiestie of Rome that al nations and kingdomes should learne to speake their speache and that it were abasement for them to learne any straunge toung Also he did ordeine that al the old impotent blind people in Rome should be susteined at the charges of the common wealth but such as were younger and more able shoulde be constrained eyther to boult meale at the bakers or to blowe the bellowes at the smythes By chaunce on a certaine day he founde an olde seruitour whiche he had knowne long in the warres rubbing and clawing him selfe against the pillers of the Churche Adrian demaunding why he did so rubbe him selfe and weare out his clothes the olde man made answere I haue no garments to clothe my selfe neyther any man giueth me to eate yet if it may please thée Adrian I haue founde meane to rub my selfe Adrian tooke great compassion of that whiche he did sée but much more of that which he heard and presently he commaunded goods to be giuen him and slaues to serue him And as enuie is naturall vnto the poore as pryde is common among the riche The next day other two poore men came before Adrian rubbing them selues amongst the pillers in hope to receiue the like liberalitie whom he willed to be called vnto him commaunding the one to scratch the other and by turne to ease each other of his itch Vnto king Pharasmaco of the Parthians Adrian gaue great giftes that is to say fiftie Eliphants armed with their towers and thrée hundred men of Hiberin in the countrie of Spaine which were of his guard CHAP. XI Of the prodigious and monstruous things that happened during the Empire of Antoninus MAny trauels and hard aduentures followed the Emperour Antoninus while he liued and also in all his kingdomes in the time of his reigne bicause Fortune is so variable that she neuer stayeth her wheele or euer ceaseth to be turning thereof In the second yeare of his reigne hunger was so great so sharpe and so generall throughout all Italie that thereof there dyed no lesse then if it had bene of a fierce pestilence There was in Asia so cruell and so generall an earthquake that many houses and buildings were subuerted many people slayne and not a fewe cities disinhabited for the repayring of which great hurtes he sent not onely money from the common wealth of Rome but also plentifully sent his treasure out of his owne coffers In the moneth of Ianuarie there was in Rome so furious a fire that it burnt ten thousand houses wherein there perished of men women and children more then tenne thousande In the same yeare was burnt the stately place of Carthage the one halfe of Antioche and in a manner the whole citie of Narbona In the moneth of August there was at Rome great floudes and besides losse of their corne both reapt and vnreapt The riuer Tyber did so swell and ouerflowe that one dayes losse was not repayred in thrée yeares On the fourth of the monethe of Maie there appeared a starre ouer Rome conteyning the quantitie of the whéele of a myll which threw out sparkes so thicke and so continuall that it séemed rather the fire of a forge then the shining of a starre In the sixt yeare of the Empire of Antoninus in Rome was borne a childe with two heades the one like a man the other like a dogge but the straungenesse of the matter did more excéede in that with one head he did cry and barke as a whelpe and with the other did wéepe as a childe In the citie of Capua a woman was brought a bed and deliuered of fiue sonnes At that time was séene in Arabia a great and a most huge serpent which being séene of many persons vpon the height of a rocke did eate halfe his owne tayle in which yeare there was throughout all Arabia maruellous greate pestilence In the ninthe yeare of the Empire of Antoninus in the citie of Mesia barley was séene to growe in the heads of their trées in such wise that no trée bare fruite that yeare but eares of of barley In the same yeare there happened in the kingdome of Artenitos in a citie named Triponia foure wilde and vnknowne Lions to lye downe in the market place which became so tame that they made them packehorsse to the mountaines for wood and boyes became horssemen vppon their backes In the kingdome of Mauritania a childe was borne which had the heade turned backwards which liued and was bred vp and also suche as would eyther sée or speake with him most conueniently did place them selues at his backe which notwithstanding coulde both sée speake and go but with his hands might not féede him selfe There died in Rome a Senatour named Rufus a man of great wealth and credite whiche after his death did many times come to the Senate sitting in his wonted place and clad with garments after his olde fashion but was neuer hearde speake one worde and this vision continued in the Senate full two yeares CHAP. XI Of the warres that happened in the reigne of Antoninus Pius and other his actes IT chaunced vnto no Romaine prince as it did vnto Antoninus which alwayes remaining within the bounds of Italie and commonly within Rome was so beloued feared and serued of all straunge kings and kingdomes as if personally he visited had conquered thē In the fourth yeare of his empire king Pharasmaco came to Rome but onely to sée Antoninus and brought and presented vnto him so muche and so maruellous thinges that the eyes of men were not satisfied in beholding eyther their hearts in wishing them The king of Parthians had taken awaye much landes from the king of Armenia who sent to complaine vnto the Romaines as vnto their friends alies and confederates for whome the Emperour Antoninus did write his letters vnto the king of Parthians to cease to do wrong and also to make restitution vnto the Armenians whose letters being receiued and read was presently obeied and perfourmed King Abogarus one of the mightiest and most notable kinges of the Orient the Emperour Antoninus did force to come to Rome bycause that owing a great summe of money vnto one of his vassals he would not come to account The good Emperour Traiane had constrained the Parthians to receiue their seate and royall crowne at the handes of the Romaines which subiection the Parthians both denyed and refused but Antoninus not only by letters but also by apparant threatnings did force them to yealde
manifested the whole matter which were not onely pardoned but also largely rewarded The treason being detected which the traitour and tyrant Perennius had deuised it séemed good vnto the friendes of Commodus and the enimies of Perennius to the ende to deliuer him from all suspicion first and immediately to cut off his head for that Perennius being guilefull and in great power might haue preuented his owne execution with the slaughter of others A great parte of the night being past and Perennius reposing in his owne house Commodus commaunded him to be called in great haste aduertising him at the instant of letters out of Asia who entring the Emperours chamber founde not Commodus but yet wanted not that presently cut off his head At the instant that Perennius was put to death a post with greate spéede was sent into Illyria by whome Commodus did write vnto the sonnes of Perennius that all thinges set aparte they should repaire to Rome to visite their father being sicke in his bedde to the ende that if the destinies shoulde permit his death to succéede in his place The sonnes of Perennius did well thinke that all had béene truthe which was written vnto them and nothing doubting the detection of their treason presently departed towards Come but at their entrie of the first citie of Italie they were made shorter by bothe their heades This in conclusion was the ende of the tyrant Perennius which lost his sonnes his goods his honour and his life not rather for any mischiefe then for his presumption and pride Of this example let all Princes take warning howe they magnifie their seruauntes with too greate wealth and power and this is saide because potencie ingendreth enuie and ouermuch riches doth breede and bring forth pride CHAP. IX ¶ Of the tyrant Maternus and of his treason against Commodus EXcéeding ioy did the Romaines receiue of the death of Perennius and his sonnes because his auarice and pride was more sharpe and intollerable then the folly of Commodus The offices of Perennius were diuided amongest many because it séemed that so greate authoritie and power to be placed and committed in one person were to put his life in perill and his Empire to commission Incredible and innumerable were the richesse iewels and money that were confiscate by the death of Perennius and his sonnes but they were so wilfully and wickedly diuided and spent that whatsoeuer Perennius gathered by extortion and briberie Commodus spent imployed in vices There was in those dayes in Italie a certeine man named Maternus who from his childhood was bred in the armies of Illyria of nature bolde and valiant subtile painefull sharpe or quicke proude seditious and stammering in such wise that as he was filthie of his toung so was he soudeine of his handes In all debates seditions and mutinies which happened in the campes or cities this Maternus was euer founde one either the chiefe authour thereof or else to be noted aboue the rest because they saye this was his common speache that on that daye wherein he shed no bloude wine had no good relishe The captaines of the armies did partly beare with him for his valiantnesse but on the other side they might not endure his continuall quarelinges and in the ende his lewdnesse being growen intollerable they did not onely dispatche him from the warres but also did banishe him the confines of Italie This Maternus being a ringleader of all wicked and desperate persons that were in the armies many did accompanie and also followe him in that exile not to remaine as bounde to leade a better life but to haue libertie to committ muche euil With those companions that Maternus had recouered from the armies and with others that dayly ioyned with him he obteined vnder his Standarde twentie thousande footemen and two thousand horssemen within the space of foure monethes with which people Maternus committed so many robberies burnings and slaughters in the cities and territories of Italie as if an Hanibal had béene raised from the dead to conquere Rome Italie being robbed and sacked Maternus departed into Lombardie and from thence into Fraunce and after into Spaine in which kingdomes he continued in that courtesie whiche he vsed in Italie and that whiche was moste to be marueiled was that his armie daily increased and no man attempted to resist him in suche wise wise that with them which were present he did yeld occasion to be busied and with them that were absent he ministred matter of communication This tyrant Maternus and his people helde no other trade but to rob temples to sacke townes to scowre the fieldes to spoyle corne to burne houses to force women to defile virgins and that whiche was woorste that not contented for them selues to liue at libertie they brake prisons and set at large all malefactours It is amongest euils the supreme euil and in tyrantes the greatest tyrannie that they of them selues will not liue according to reason and iustice but that also they wil not consent that malefactours be committed to iustice Maternus and his armie remaining in Spaine Cōmodus wrote vnto all the Pretors of those countries to raise an armie of great power to destroy the tyrant Maternus and to make greate promises by publique proclamations that vnto him whiche should cutt off the heade or take the bodie or person of Maternus shoulde haue in rewarde all his goodes and his picture aduaunced and set vp in Rome The first proclamations were published in Saragosa at which time Maternus was resident in Taragon who being aduertised that they of Spaine prepared an armie against him and that amongest the captaines great wagers were laide who shoulde first ridde him of his life he determined to returne into Italie with determination to kill Commodus in Rome Where vpon Maternus moste secreatly conferred with his chief and special friends arrantest théeues and most doughtie personages to forsake the armye seuerally diuidinge them selues by sundrye wayes vpon one certaine and appointed day without faile to make their méeting in Rome Presently after Maternus was gonne out of sight al the remnant of his army was dismaide and fel in péeces wherof there were infinite taken strangled drowned drawne hāged in such wise that in so great a number of theues none had better aduenture then to be slaine or put to death except he had friendly fauour of fortune to be made a bondman Maternus his cōpanions the day houre place on which they had agréed in Spaine ioyntly did encounter at Rome whiche for a time wente dispersed disguised by day but ioyned by night to committ their theftes being furnished for their prouision but onely with suche prouision as they might pick by day and steale by night wherein they vsed so greate shiftes guile and skill that although they accompanied but by couples yet if the warde or watche by daye or night did attempt to arrest or offende any one at an instant they were all ready for
clearely see that amongest all the trauels of men to be an Emperour is the greatest Neither merueile either be escādalized O ye fathers conscript to see me so vntractable and with so many teares to refuse the Empire for if I thought to vse my selfe therein as a tyrant I would not caste it off but would rather procure the same but as my meaning is to liue gouerne more to the profite of the common wealth thē to the aduancement of mine owne house respecting my small strength the Empire is to mee a great burthen Being as I was most truly satisfied with the acquaintance and conuersation of the trauels of the Empire there were no reason to think I should desire the Empire because there is none so foolish as the man that with the hope of a remedie would offer himselfe vnto an hazard Vnto this day I haue beene esteemed in possession of great wealth but now that I am an Emperour I am forced to become poore for that a prince in respect of such with whō he hath to deale and accomplish hath fewe thinges to giue and hath a thousand necessities that constreine him to bribe and robbe Vntil this day I haue had some quietnesse but from henceforth I shal be constreined to liue discontented because from the trauel and disquietnes of the prince peace and quietnesse doeth proceede vnto the common wealth The office of the prince is not to sleepe but to watche not to be idle but to trauell for that euerie excessiue recreation which his person taketh forthwith redoundeth to the offence of the common wealth From my birth vntill this day of any thing I haue not had greater experiēce then to see heare read suffer and experiment trauels wherof many I beheld farre off but alas of my selfe that nowe am inuironed therewith because the appetite of the vulgar people is so feeble and variable that if to day they giue and elect a good prince to morrow they would relishe and haue a taste of the gouernement of some other Naturallie all men in all thinges and at all houres desire to heare and see nouelties and much more desire the same in the estate of gouernement then in all other thinges for that no prince gouerneth so well but that they conceiue an other should gouerne better Vntill this day I haue beene well liked serued and reuerenced but from henceforth al men for the most part shal beare me enuie and hatred because the estate of princes is so enuied that hee shall want sand in the Sea to reckon his enimies but the number of his fingers of one hand shal exceede to point out his friends All this I haue said fathers conscript to the end ye shall not merueile why I haue refused the burthen of the Empire but rather am escandalized knowing what I know to see my selfe charged and ouer laden with the Empire because to renounce it a thousād thinges do moue me to attempt it nothing inuite me But since the gods haue so willed my destinies so permitted ye also haue so ordeined I determin to lode my selfe with this burdē although I am assured it wil cost me my life but I yeld it al for wel imployed if it perfourmed to the benefite of the common wealth These woordes being said by Pertinax the Senate receiued great pleasure and chiefly praised him for that hée forbad all men to speake euill of Commodus knowing as they all did knowe that hée had béene his mortall enimie The Senat receiued Pertinax in the midst amōgest them and did accompany and attend vpon him vnto all the temples and euery temple did offer vnto the Gods notable sacrifices And most truly this was a notable and also a laudable custome amongest the Romans which is to witt that princes newly elected did first visite the Gods before they permitted themselues to be visited of men As Pertinax had his person in so great authoritie and being elected by the armie and the Senat with so great concord and further being old and hoarie headed and so long time knowen in Rome it was a monstruous thing to behold when he came forth into Rome how al men hasted to sée his face for truly it seemed litle vnto euery man to obey him as a prince but to loue and serue him as a father CHAP. VI. ¶ Of many thinges which he did after he was Emperour THe first thing that Pertinax commaunded or prouided was that the men of warre were very wel payed and therwith practised great discipline in which matter more then in any other he presently gaue reformation for that in the Empire of Commodus the armie was abandoned vnto great libertie Cōmodus consumed so great summes of monie in vices that there was not sufficient to pay the men of warre by this occasion they did filche by night rob on high wayes sacke houses spoile corne oppresse the poore and were bribers with rich men finally they were desperate and so flesht that for feare of any paine they neuer absteyned from offence Not many dayes after that Pertinax was published Emperour and with great seriousnes on a certeine day vsed familiaritie with Letus and Electus a Consul named Falcus said vnto him what an Emperour O Pertinax thou shalt proue thy workes begin to make demonstration since thou leadest after thee Letus and Electus which as traytours did kill their Lord Commodus doing what thou doest and consenting to that wherto thou didst consent it may be no lesse besides the euill example which thou yéeldest vnto Rome thou giuest also such scruple vnto thy fame whereby we thinke that if thou wert not the inuentour of his death at the least thou delightest to cloke the same Vnto this Pertinax made aunswere it well séemeth that although thou be a Cōsul thou art but a yongling since thou knowest not to make difference of times It maketh no great matter that I doe with Letus and Electus as they did with their Lord Commodus that is to say they obeyed him and followed him and that whiche they most desired they most dissembled and at the houre of opportunitie they dispatched him of his life The same day that hée was created Augustus and Emperour hée was intituled Pater patriae this excellencie vnto none either since or before was giuen vppon that day His wife was named Flauia Titiana vnto whome likewise on the same day that he was inuested Augustus she was intituled Augusta The Emperour Pertinax did greatly trauell to allowe all thinges that his Lord Marcus Aurelius did fauour to finish that which hée had begon to susteine that which hée had left to repaire that which he had built and to imitate all that which hée had done for hée said it was impossible to erre in following the stepps of the good Marcus Aurelius The fame being diuulgate thoroughout the Empire howe Commodus was dead and Pertinax chosen Emperour the countries cities prouinces and kingdomes gaue very large rewards vnto the messengers thereof no
stopt with multitudes of people he began by force to make his way and teare and treade the people who made resistance for their safetie adding thereunto woordes ouer furious as people passioned And as the Emperour then being placed in the same chariot although they said no word to his offence he receiued the cochemans iniurie as his owne presently cōmaunding al his Pretorians which there did guard his person to make slaughter at their libertie And as al persons there present were more deckt and trimmed for the feast then armed either in redinesse for battel so great cōpassion was it to behold the multitudes of people that died there without any offence and sheading of bloud of so many innocentes for if tenne or twelue had offended they were more then 15. thousād that were there executed The Romanes did neither eate drincke sléepe or doe any thing but with great trembling not doubting when they should be accused but when Bassianus shoulde commaunde them to be slaine for neuer tyrant did execute that which he ordinarily perfourmed in Rome which is to wéete without any accusement of fiscall or complaint of enimie or wante of seruice to commaunde any man to be slaine CHAP. VIII Of the prouinces whiche Bassianus did trauell and the thinges which he did therein AFter that Bassianus had slaine his brother Geta and his enimies as also manie of his friendes and infinite others that were neither friends nor foes he departed from Rome iourneying towardes Germanie whiche nowe is named high Almaine with determination to visite those Prouinces and to refourme his armies whiche by continuance of peace were growne to greate negligence in matters of warre A whole summer hee lodged neare vnto the riuer of Danubie where he exercised hunting fishing playing running torneying and sometimes sate in iudgmente and a matter wherein he made all men to woonder was that in hearing anie cause at the instant he gaue sentence wherein he neuer erred and also iudgmente according to iustice He had greate delectatiō of that countrie and the people of the same makinge choyce of the valiauntest and gallantest personages of the youthe of Germanie for the guarde of his person The prouinces adioyning vnto Danubie being set in order he passed into Thracia and from thence into the lande of Macedonia with determinatiō to visite the natiue countrie of Alexander the greate All thinges wherein the actes of Alexander were grauen or painted hee repaired renewed and made better manie other thinges he did both adde and inuente in such wise that in al the kingdome of Macedonie there was neither citie or temple where he did not erecte some edifice or place some picture or counterfeite Bassianus perfourmed manie notable things in Macedonia right worthy praise and some other thinges no lesse to be derided because in manie places he caused a bodie with two heads to be painted and also grauen whereof one he intituled vnto him selfe and the other vnto Alexander The Macedonians did not a little scorne this acte that Bassianus woulde compare with the greate Alexander for they estéemed their kinge in suche possession and estate that they say and affirme neither anie in this life to be equall vnto him either in the other worlde surmoūted of none of the Gods. Bassianus grewe so proude when he sawe him self so generally praysed for his woorthy actes done in Macedonia that he cōmaunded al his househoulde not to call hym Bassianus but Alexander and commaūded al the captains of his armie to intitule thē selues with the names of Alexanders auncient captaines whereof the Romanes receiued no small griefe and al the aunciente seruaunts of his father were not a little disgraced for it séemed vnto them that since he did not trust them with the garde of his person he woulde not loue them either deale with them according vnto his accustomed manner Hee woulde ofte put off all his Romaine apparrell and cladde him selfe after the Flemmish fashion and further the more aptly to resemble them he woulde weare counterfeite red haire and howe muche the more he vsed these thinges so muche the greater was the griefe vnto the Romaines Also he obserued a custome both in eating and drinking in his apparrell and seruice as in all other trauels which all wayes followe the warres but as a common souldiour It happened manie times that if a trench were to be made he firste woulde digge carrie forth earth marche on foote grinde breade corne for his owne diet and bake it vnder the asshes Hee delighted in base lodging to resemble the common soldiour and woulde not drinke in golde or siluer but in woodden tankards finally he did not onely abhorre all thinges that séemed superfluous but also manie times that which was right necessarie Hee commaunded also that none shoulde attende him except he were commaunded or call him Emperour but companion all whiche hee did to obtaine their loue and to seeme admirable in his trauels He commaunded his armie to be diuided into three partes and the one to be called Macedonike the other Laconike and the thirde Spartanike in memorie of three famous prouinces of Grecia whiche folowed the greate Alexander in all his wars and the people which he estéemed most valiaunt and warlike From Macedonie hee tooke his way vnto Pergamus a famous citie in Asia to viewe the temple of Esculapius the father and founder of physicke in which temple he slept manie nights and as he afterwardes saide receiued there manie aunswers of the God Esculapius many coūsels as well for conseruation of his health as the gouernemente of his cōmō wealth From Pergamus Bassianus departed to the citie Ilion that in times paste had beene head of the kingdome of Troy where greate warres were long continued betwixt the Greekes and the Troyans whiche hee founde not onelie destroyed but also plowed and sowen Bassianus did there greately desire to burie some persone after the fashion as in times past they had buried Patroclus and for accomplishment of his desire he commaunded poyson to be giuen vnto Festus his priuate and fauoured seruaunt whome after he was deade he buried there according to the fashion whiche the Troyans vsed with Patroclus whiche fact of his some excuse affirming that Festus died without Bassianus his commaundemente Before that Bassianus entred high Almaine he would visite Gallia Transalpina after a fewe dayes of his entraunce therin commaunded the Proconsul of Narbona to be slaine of which déede as also of others which he executed he fel into the hatred of that cōmō people deserued the name of a tyrant In his nauigatiō frō Germanie into Asia he foūd him self in so great danger that the ship it selfe wherin he sailed did rent sinke he escaped in a litle barke He was strikē with so greate feare on sea that after he had escaped that daunger he woulde oftentimes say I knowe not what man hauing breade to eate and garments to weare and couer him selfe on lande woulde to become an